Foundation plate



Aprilll, 1,939. F F,` M|| s FoUNDATioN PLATE Filed Jan. 20, 1958-INVENTOR ATTORNEY IIHI www@

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED kSTATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNDATION PLATEFrederick F. Mills, Ocean City, N. J.

Application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,821

3 Claims.

My invention relates to structural materials adapted for use in theerection of buildings and particularly to supporting structures such asfoundation plates, floor or ceiling plates and related elements forsupporting framework, studding, columns, posts and the like. While myinvention is adapted for use in the construction and erection ofpre-fabricated buildings to provide an improved support for elementsthereof, the invention also is adapted for use in other types ofconstruction and is especially useful in buildings and structural workwherein members formed of metal are employed.

In erecting structures it is important that members of the framework andparticularly members which extend upwardly from a foundation or supportsuch as studding, columns, posts and the like as well as inclinedmembers such as stair stringere, and roof rafters should be firmly 2Osupported at their base. Ordinarily, it is equally important that thespacing and arrangement of the members of the framework be accurate.This is particularly true when the framework is formed of metal or themembers thereof are provided with bolt holes or other elements which arenot easily altered to compensate for misalignment of parts. Inaccordance with my invention means are provided which serve to positionand align the members of the framework and provide a firm supporttherefor which may be securely located with respect tothe footing orfoundation of a building or other parts of the structure. The inventionincludes a supporting structure of novel construction together withmeans for positioning the same and for positioning other members of aframework relative thereto. In a typical construction illustrated in thedrawing, my invention is shown as applied to a foundation having a wallsupported `thereby and includes a spreader 4U member for a form intowhich concrete is poured. A supporting member such as a foundation plateengages the spreader member and is formed with positioning elements ortongues extending upwardly from the base thereof to engage opposite 4;,sides of the webs of I-beams or other members of the framework employedas studding, columns, stair stringers or the like. The foundation platealso is provided with anchoring members extending downwardly from thebase thereof for anchor- 5,0 ing the plate to the concrete footing orother base. One of the objects of my invention is to provide novelstructural members which are inexpensive to produce and employ, andwhich serve to provide a firm support for the members of a frame- 55Work.

Another object of my invention is to provide a foundation plate orsimilar member for assembly in combination with vertical or upwardlyextending elements to align said elements and secure them in positionwithout the use of bolts, rivets or 5 other securing means.

A further object of my invention is to reduce the cost and increase thestrength and rigidity of constructions such as pre-fabricated buildingsor other structures having a framework formed of 10 metal members.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to theaccompanying figures of the drawing wherein l5 typical members embodyingmy invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a typical foundation constructionembodying my invention. 20

Fig.. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the construction illustrated inFig, l taken on the line 2--2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction illustrated inFig. 1 taken on the line 25 2-3 thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a corner construction using themembers illustrated in Fig. 1.

In that form of my invention illustrated in the 30 figures of thedrawing a foundation or footing 2 is formed of concrete or othersuitable material poured within a form 4. A spreader member t extendstransversely of the form and is secured thereto in any suitable way tohold the sides of the 35 form in position during setting of theconcrete. The spreader member is formed with a horizontal portion 8 theupper face of which preferably is positioned substantially flush withthe surface of the concrete footing. A vertical portion I -of the 40spreader member extends downwardly into the concrete footing and anupwardly extending portion l2 of the spreader member extends above thefooting. Lugs I4 struck inwardly from the upwardly extending portion l2of the spreader ma- 45 chine project over the horizontal portion 3thereof and serve to position a foundation plate I6 or other supportingmember. The spreader member thus serves to hold the form and foundationplate in place during setting of the concrete insuring properpositioning of the plate and on setting of the concrete serves toprevent lateral displacement of the foundation plate relative to thefooting.

The foundation plate I6 shownis in the form 55 of a channel member iiiof U shaped cross section located between the lugs I4 on the spreadermembers 6. The lower face of the channel member rests upon thehorizontal portions 8 of the spreader members and preferably also restsupon the footing 2 between the spreader members so as to be supportedthroughout the length thereof. The base of the channel member I8 isformed with an anchoring member I8 struck therefrom and extendingdownwardly with the lower portion 20 turned at right angles so that whenembedded in the concrete of the footing the channel member is securelyanchored in place preventing displacement of the channel member withrespect to the footing and the spreader member. Positioning holes ormeans 22 are formed in the lugs i4 and in the upwardly extending sides24 of the channel member to locate the channel member with respect tothe spreader members and footing before pouring concrete into the formsand to hold the elements in place during pouring and setting of theconcrete footing. If desired, bolts 28 may extend through the holes 22but such bolts `ordinarily are unnecessary after the parts areaccurately positioned and the material of the foundation is set.

The base of the foundation plate or channel member l also is providedwith positioning tongues 28 struck upward therefrom with the upperextremities 30 thereof flared outwardly. The tongues are formed in pairsand are located in predetermined positions to receive therebetween thewebs 32 of vertical or upwardly extending framework member such asI-beams 34 ernployed as studding, columns, stair stringers or the like.The webs 32 of the I-beams extend at right angles to the channel memberwhereas the flanges 4U thereof extend parallel to the upwardly extendingsides 24 o'f the channel member l@ and lie closely adjacent the innerfaces thereof. The sides 24 and flanges 4Q of the I- beams may beprovided with openings for receiving positioning means such as bolts 36to secure the stud in place more firmly and prevent vertical movementthereof. However, the bolt 36 need not be used with vertical memberssuch as studding and posts to which considerable weight is applied andeven when the upwardly extending members are inclined, as in the case ofstair stringers and roof rafters. Therefore the bolts 36 are notessential to the construction unless the lateral thrust thereon issuflicient to deform the tongues 28.

As shown in Figs. l. and 3 of the drawing, the tongues 23 preferably arenarrower than the channel member so that when struck up therefrommarginal supporting portions 38 are pre` sented against which theflanges 40 of the I-beam may bear so that the whole weight of the studor post is not carried by the narrow section 42 of the channel memberwhich is located between the tongues 28.

In forming the corners of structures in accordance with my invention aspreader member 44 may be secured to the outer members 46 of the formand positioned at substantially 45 with respect thereto as` shown inFig. 4. The bases of the U shaped channel members 48 and 50 arechamfered so that they do not overlap and the outer upwardly extendingsides 52 of the channel member are bent at 45 to provide ears 54 whichlie adjacent a portion 55 struck inwardly at right angles from theupwardly projecting portion 58 of the spreader member 44. A bolt 6l! mayextend through aligned openings in the portion 56 of the spreader memberand the ears 54 of the channel members to secure the parts in placeduring pouring and setting of the concrete within the forms for thefooting. The inner sides B2 of the channel members are also extended andbent at 45 to provide ears 84 which lie adjacent each other and a boltor pin 66 may be passed through openings therein to hold the parts inposition.

A corner post 68 in the form of an angle member extends verticallyupward from the channel members and has the sides thereof located inslots 'Hl in the inner and outer channel members respectively. Tongues12 struck upwardly from the base of the channel members serve to holdthe corner posts in position and end studs 14 in the form of channelmembers may be positioned with their bases against the adjacent sides ofthe corner member to provide additional strength in the corners. Thetongues 'l2 thus serve to hold both the corner member and the end studsin place and in contact'with each other.

In using the construction described the spreader members E are placedbetween the opposite sides of the form 4 with the horizontal portion 3thereof flush with the line to which concrete is to be poured. Thecorner spreader members 44 are similarly positioned as shown in Fig. 4.The channel members it are then placed between the lugs i4 on theupwardly extending portions 3 of the spreader members with the feet i8of the channel members extending downward into the form. The ends of thechannel niembers are positioned with respect to the spreader members 44to form the corners and theparts are accurately positioned with .respectto the spreader members by means of the positioning holes 22, throughwhich bolts may be passed and the positioning bolts Sil and 66 for thecorner members to hold the parts in position during pouring and setting`of the concrete.

After the forms, spreader members and foundation plates have beenarranged the concrete is poured until level with the bottoms of thefoundation plates so that the portions 8 of the spreader members arehush with the surface of the concrete and the feet I8 of the foundationplates are embedded therein. The concrete is then allowed to set and thevertical I-beams 34 and the corner posts 68 as well as any pillars,stair stringers and the like may be positioned with the lower endsthereof between the upstanding tongues 28 or 12 in the base of thechannel member, being guided into position by the flared edges 38 of thetongues. Bolts 36 may then be passed through the sides of the channelmember and the base of the I-beams to hold them in vertical positionuntil the upper portions are secured in place as the structure iserected.

As shown in Fig. 4 the location of the upstanding tongues 28 forpositioning the studs or other members of the framework and the locationof the spreader members 6 may be chosen to provide additional supportfor those studs or posts which are required to carry the heaviest loads.For this purpose the spreader members are positioned with the horizontalportions 8 thereof beneath the tongues 28 and those portions of thechannel members against which the bases of thel a single bolt orpositioning pin 16 will then serve to locate both the foundation plateand the stud with respect to the spreader member whereby the parts maybe positioned very accurately.

The construction described assures accurate location and spacing of thestudding, posts and other members of the construction so that each ofthe members of the framework of a building or the like may be formed,stamped or fabricated to fit in a given location and can be positionedand secured in place very quickly and easily without the use of nails,bolts or rivets. Furthermore the accuracy of location of each member isnot left to the judgment of those erecting the building but is assuredby the manufacturer of the foundation plates and other parts of thestructure. 'I'herefore little if any skilled labor is required for theerection of the framework of the structure.

While my invention is of particular value in the construction anderection of prefabricated buildings and other structures having steelframework it will be apparent that foundation plates and other elementsof the structure may be used in supporting and positioning woodenstudding, posts and the like. In such cases it is only necessary thatthe spacing of the tongues 2B and 'l2 from one another be sufficient toreceive the studs or other wooden members therebetween.

It will also be apparent that the present invention may be used informing sills and floor supports and where necessary or desirable thefoundation plate may be located in a vertical position to support andlocate horizontally extending beams or the like for building, bridges,roadways or other structures. It should therefore be understood that theform of my invention herein described and shown in the drawing 1sintended to be illustrative of a typical embodiment of my invention andis not intended to limit the scope thereof.

I claim:

l. A building construction comprising a footing formed of concrete,aplurality of members each having a portion thereof embedded in theconcrete of said footing and another portion projecting above the uppersurface of said footing and provided with spaced lugs, a foundationplate located between the lugs on the projecting portions of saidmembers, said lugs and foundation plate being formed with cooperatingmeans for positioning the foundation plate, said foundation plateresisting upon the upper surface of said footing and having elementsextending downwardly therefrom and embedded in the concrete of saidfooting and having spaced elements extending upwardly therefrom andstructural members supported by said foundation plate and locatedbetween the spaced upwardly extending elements thereof.

2. A building construction comprising a footing formed of concrete, aplurality of members each having a portion thereof embedded in theconcrete of said footing and another portion projecting above the uppersurface of said footing and provided with spaced lugs, a foundationplate located between the lugs on the projecting portions of saidmembers, said lugs and foundation plate being formed with cooperatingmeans for positioning the foundation plate, said foundation plateresting upon the upper surface of said footing and having elementsextending downwardly therefrom and embedded in the concrete of saidfooting and having spaced elements extending upwardly therefrom, andupwardly extending I-beams having the lower ends thereof bearing againstsaid foundation plate and positioned with the webs thereof locatedbetween the spaced upwardly extending elements on said foundation plate.

3. A building construction comprising a footing formed of concrete,members partially embedded in the concrete of said footing provided withspaced lugs projecting above the upper surface of said footing, afoundation plate of U shaped cross section located between the lugs onsaid members, said members and lugs having cooperating means forpositioning said foundation plate with respect to said footing and saidfoundation plate having an element struck downward from the base of saidplate and embedded in the concrete of said footing, said foundationplate also having other elements struck upward fromlthe base of saidplate between the sides of said channel, the latter elements beingspaced apart to receive a structural member therebetween to positionsaid member with respect to said foundation plate.

FREDERICK F. MILLS.

